A “layman” has only a small amount of knowledge on a subject, so this doesn’t describe the person in the sentence. An "aficionado" is a devoted fan who makes it their business to research a particular area of interest. An “anachronism” is something out of place in time. “Aficionado . . . anachronisms” is the correct answer.

The contrast here is between a building that is "stark," meaning very brutal (and, by implication, plain), and one that is "florid," meaning very complex. Thus, the first building likely has a stark "simplicity" that is contrasted to the florid "ornateness" of the other building. Such a building has "ornaments" throughout it, meaning that it has many extra embellishments—quite in contrast to something that is stark and simple.

By filling in the blanks for this sentence, you can rather quickly come to the correct answer. The investigator was uncertain about the "blaming of the explosion", for there were no flames "within the area" of the building. The second blank would fit well with the word "vicinity," though this is not an option. The word "precincts" works well too. It means the area within a particular set of boundaries. Sometimes, this term is used for areas larger than a house, but that is okay for this question, as it can also apply to a building. The word "ascription" is good for the first blank. You likely know the related word "ascribe." When we ascribe one thing to something else, we attribute that first thing to the second.

The country has been suffering form civil wars that the "dictator" ended. This means "his rule" was a break, or "respite," from the lack of government authority, or "anarchy," of "the country's civil wars."

For this sentence, the most general meaning will be the best for the first blank. The word "detritus" means waste in a general sense. Sometimes, the word is used to describe the leftover waste created when things decompose; however it can have the general meaning of "waste." Really we know little else about the porch than that it was filled with something. Given that cleaning is going on, it is likely that it is waste. Apparently, it needs to be removed before more materials could be removed. Hence, the simple word "disposal" works well for this end.

"Grandiloquence" is pompousness in speech. "Tenacity" is persistence in a task in the face of adversity. "Quiescence" and "acumen" are grammatically correct in this sentence, but "grandiloquence" fits better because it suggests speaking, while "quiescence" suggests silence.

Probably the easier of the two blanks is the second one. Since Matthew apparently finds Mozart's music to be unimpressive, we should look for a noun that expresses this general idea of being unimpressive or unimportant. The word "ditty" is generally used to describe songs that are mere "playing around" and not really serious music. This works well to express someone's idea of finding something to be unimpressive! Now, Matthew's feeling is not likely irritation. Instead, contempt is a much better word, for it indicates looking down at something or holding it in disdain.

“Guile” means cunning. You might reason that perhaps she needed to be cunning to overcome temptation, but know that “guile” has a negative connotation. Keeping to her diet would not qualify as “guile.” “Perfidy” similarly does not fit given the context. “Abstinence” is staying away from an indulgence. “Restraint . . . abstinence” is the correct answer.

The first blank in this sentence is a synonym for "ancestors." Thus, the simple word "forbears" is the best option provided. Several of the other options deal with particular kinds of authority figures; however, none of these are really appropriate for this particular question. The sentence doesn't even deal with authority figures in an explicit manner. It is merely looking for the generic notion of being an ancestor.

For the second blank, there are two options that would work. On the one hand a synonym of "alteration" would express well enough the fact that there has been little change or_alteration_ in esteem for ancestors. None of the options provided express this meaning. The second option that would work is a synonym for "decrease." For this, "diminution" works well. This word has the root "-min-" in it, coming from the Latin for small or less. It is found in words like "miniature" and "minus."

Officials are worried about a flood, so we know that what they welcomed was a pause or break in the rain. "Cessation" is a good fit here. A _break (_or "breach") in the levee could cause flooding.